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Return to Europe in Sustainable Style

25 November 2019

Investors find the glass half full

European companies posted net positive surprises during the Q3 results season (albeit on reduced expectations). More favourable base effects and expectation of a modest uptick in global GDP growth next year, along with resilient profit margins, have prompted expectations of mid-single digit EPS growth in 2020.

If analysts are correct, Q3 could mark the trough of the earnings soft patch. Europe’s relatively open economy has meant that the economic slowdown has been more pronounced than in other regions, but equally stands to benefit more on recovery. Optimism also comes from hopes for fiscal spending under the new leadership of the ECB.

Investors have not missed this tentative improvement in confidence. They have responded to relatively positive economic announcements with a change in behaviour, as shown by net inflows into European equity ETFs in recent weeks. European equity price ratings are not expensive on a long-term perspective and could rise if certain sources of uncertainty reduce and the activity backdrop improves.

Investors looking to invest in Europe also have the opportunity to do so in adherence with ESG principles. Moreover, this exposure can be accessed cost-effectively and without an impact on performance, as shown in the backtested index performance below.

STOXX Europe 600 Index is a key benchmark for pan-European exposure. With a fixed number of 600 components, the index represents large, mid and small capitalisation companies across 17 countries of the European region including France, Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The STOXX Europe 600 ESG-X index, an exclusion index, launched in 2018 to provide exposure to these countries whilst adhering to the exclusion criteria most desired by investors (as revealed in investors surveys both by STOXX and State Street Global Advisors). The ESG screens are based on the responsible policies of leading asset owners and are based on data from ESG ratings provider Sustainalytics.

Companies excluded from the STOXX parent index are those considered by Sustainalytics to be non-compliant with the UN Global Compact Principles; are involved in controversial weapons; are tobacco producers; or that derive revenues from thermal coal extraction or exploration, or have power generation capacity that utilises thermal coal.

Over the last five years, returns for the ESG-X index are the same (5.7% p.a.) as the parent benchmark without suffering any extra volatility (this comparison includes backtested returns, as the inception date for the ESG-X index was 16 November 2018). Among the main goals of the index is to reduce reputational and idiosyncratic risks.

How to play this theme

Same returns, better story

Source: STOXX, gross returns in EUR as at 21 November 2019. The inception date for the STOXX Europe 600 ESG-X index was 16 November 2018; performance prior to this date is backtested. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Results prior to this date were calculated by using available data at the time in accordance with the Index’s current methodology. Index returns reflect capital gains and losses, income, and the reinvestment of dividends.

Flows

European-Domiciled ETP Segment Flows (Top/Bottom 5, $mn)

European-Domiciled ETP Asset Category Flows ($mn)

Sources: Bloomberg Finance L.P., for the period 14-21 November 2019. This information should not be considered a recommendation to invest in a particular sector or to buy or sell any security shown. It is not known whether the sectors or securities shown will be profitable in the future.

Fund Details

Source: State Street Global Advisors, Bloomberg Finance L.P., as of 31 October 2019.

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Fund information

For Investors in Austria: The offering of SPDR ETFs by the Company has been notified to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) in accordance with section 139 of the Austrian Investment Funds Act. Prospective investors may obtain the current sales Prospectus, the articles of incorporation, the KIID as well as the latest annual and semi-annual report free of charge from State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89-55878-400. F+49 (0)89-55878-440.

Brunei: This document relates to a private collective investment scheme under the Securities Markets Order, 2013 (the “Order”) and the regulations thereunder. The document is intended for distribution only to specific classes of investors as specified in the Order and must not, therefore, be delivered to, or relied on by, a retail client. This [document] relates to a foreign collective investment scheme which is not subject to any form of domestic regulation by the Authority. The Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (the “Authority”) is not responsible for reviewing or verifying any prospectus or other documents in connection with this collective investment scheme. The Authority has not approved this [document] or any other associated documents nor taken any steps to verify the information set out in this prospectus and has no responsibility for it.

The units to which this prospectus relates may be illiquid or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the units offered should conduct their own due diligence on the units.

If you do not understand the contents of this document you should consult a licensed financial adviser

For Investors in Finland: The offering of funds by the Companies has been notified to the Financial Supervision Authority in accordance with Section 127 of the Act on Common Funds (29.1.1999/48) and by virtue of confirmation from the Financial Supervision Authority the Companies may publicly distribute their Shares in Finland. Certain information and documents that the Companies must publish in Ireland pursuant to applicable Irish law are translated into Finnish and are available for Finnish investors by contacting State Street Custodial Services (Ireland) Limited, 78 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland.

For Investors in France: This document does not constitute an offer or request to purchase shares in the Company. Any subscription for shares shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the complete Prospectus, the KIID, the addenda as well as the Company Supplements. These documents are available from the Company centralising correspondent: State Street Banque S.A., 23-25 rue Delariviere- Lefoullon, 92064 Paris La Defense Cedex or on the French part of the site spdrs.com. The Company is an undertaking for collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS) governed by Irish law and accredited by the Central Bank of Ireland as a UCITS in accordance with European Regulations. European Directive no. 2014/91/EU dated 23 July 2014 on UCITS, as amended, established common rules pursuant to the cross-border marketing of UCITS with which they duly comply. This common base does not exclude differentiated implementation. This is why a European UCITS can be sold in France even though its activity does not comply with rules identical to those governing the approval of this type of product in France. The offering of these compartments has been notified to the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) in accordance with article L214-2-2 of the French Monetary and Financial Code.

For Investors in Germany: The offering of SPDR ETFs by the Companies has been notified to the Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin) in accordance with section 312 of the German Investment Act. Prospective investors may obtain the current sales Prospectuses, the articles of incorporation, the KIIDs as well as the latest annual and semi-annual report free of charge from State Street Global Advisors GmbH, Brienner Strasse 59, D-80333 Munich. T: +49 (0)89-55878-400. F: +49 (0)89-55878-440.

The Funds mentioned are not registered in Hong Kong and may not be sold, issued or offered in Hong Kong in circumstances which amount to an offer to the public. This document is issued for informational purposes only. It has not been reviewed or approved by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. SSGA accepts no liability whatsoever for any direct, indirect or consequential loss arising from or in connection with any use of, or reliance on, this document which does not have any regard to the particular needs of any person. SSGA takes no responsibility whatsoever for any use, reliance or reference by persons other than the intended recipient of this document.

Indonesia: This document does not constitute an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy securities in Indonesia. The Shares of Fund(s) do not qualify for public distribution in Indonesia and the Fund(s) will not be subject to supervision in Indonesia. This offering documentation may not be issued, circulated or passed by the recipient to any other person in Indonesia. This offering documentation has been furnished to you solely for your for information and no part of the offering documentation may be reproduced or taken or transmitted to Indonesia or to Indonesian citizens or corporation in a manner which constitute a public offer of, nor a public invitation to subscribe for, Shares of [name of Fund] by or on behalf of the [name of Fund] or its respective affiliates. Investors and prospective investors in the Fund(s) are advised that this offering documentation must not be passed on to any other person.
Potential investors must read and understand these materials to understand the risks inherent in an investment in the Fund before making a decision to make an investment. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.

By accepting this document, you agree to be bound by the foregoing limitation.

For Investors in Italy: State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano) is a branch of State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited, registered in Ireland with company number 145221, authorised and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, and whose registered office is at 78 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2. State Street Global Advisors Ireland Limited, Milan Branch (Sede Secondaria di Milano), is registered in Italy with company number 10495250960 - R.E.A. 2535585 and VAT number 10495250960 and whose office is at Via Ferrante Aporti, 10 - 20125 Milano, Italy. T: +39 02 32066 100. F: +39 02 32066 155.
For Investors in Luxembourg: The Companies have been notified to the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier in Luxembourg in order to market its shares for sale to the public in Luxembourg and the Companies are notified Undertakings in Collective Investment for Transferable Securities (UCITS).

For Investors in the Netherlands: This communication is directed at qualified investors within the meaning of Section 2:72 of the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht) as amended. The products and services to which this communication relates are only available to such persons and persons of any other description should not rely on this communication. Distribution of this document does not trigger a licence requirement for the Companies or SSGA in the Netherlands and consequently no prudential and conduct of business supervision will be exercised over the Companies or SSGA by the Dutch Central Bank (De Nederlandsche Bank N.V.) and the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (Stichting Autoriteit Financiële Markten). The Companies have completed their notification to the Authority Financial Markets in the Netherlands in order to market their shares for sale to the public in the Netherlands and the Companies are, accordingly, investment institutions (beleggingsinstellingen) according to Section 2:72 Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act of Investment Institutions.

For Investors in Norway: The offering of SPDR ETFs by the Companies has been notified to the Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway (Finanstilsynet) in accordance with applicable Norwegian Securities Funds legislation. By virtue of a confirmation letter from the Financial Supervisory Authority dated 28 March 2013 (16 October 2013 for umbrella II) the Companies may market and sell their shares in Norway.

For use in Singapore: The offer or invitation of the Funds mentioned, which is the subject of this document, does not relate to a collective investment scheme which is authorised under section 286 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (SFA) or recognised under section 287 of the SFA. The Funds mentioned are not authorised or recognised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Funds mentioned are not allowed to be offered to the retail public. Each of this document and any other document or material issued in connection with the offer or sale is not a prospectus as defined in the SFA.

Accordingly, statutory liability under the SFA in relation to the content of prospectuses would not apply. Apotential investor should consider carefully whether the investment is suitable for it.

The MAS assumes no responsibility for the contents of this document. This document has not been registered as a prospectus with the MAS. Accordingly, this document and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the Funds mentioned may not be circulated or distributed, offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to personsin Singapore other than to an institutional investor under Section 304 of the SFA or otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA. Any subsequent sale of [Units] acquired pursuant to an offer made in reliance on an exemption under section 305 of the SFA may only be made pursuant to the requirements of sections 304A.

For Investors in Spain: SSGA SPDR ETFs Europe I and II plc have been authorised for public distribution in Spain and are registered with the Spanish Securities Market Commission (Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores) under no.1244 and no.1242. Before investing, investors may obtain a copy of the Prospectus and Key Investor Information Documents, the Marketing Memoranda, the fund rules or instruments of incorporation as well as the annual and semi-annual reports of SSGA SPDR ETFs Europe I and II plc from Cecabank, S.A. Alcalá 27, 28014 Madrid (Spain) who is the Spanish Representative, Paying Agent and distributor in Spain or at spdrs.com. The authorised Spanish distributor of SSGA SPDR ETFs is available on the website of the Securities Market Commission (Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores).

For Investors in Switzerland: The collective investment schemes referred to herein are collective investment schemes under Irish law. Prospective investors may obtain the current sales prospectus, the articles of incorporation, the KIID as well as the latest annual and semi-annual reports free of charge from the Swiss Representative and Paying Agent, State Street Bank International GmbH, Munich, Zurich Branch, Beethovenstrasse 19, 8027 Zurich as well as from the main distributor in Switzerland, State Street Global Advisors AG, Beethovenstrasse 19, 8027 Zurich. Before investing please read the prospectus and the KIID, copies of which can be obtained from the Swiss representative, or at spdrs.com.

For Investors in the UK: The Companies are recognised schemes under Section 264 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“the Act”) and are directed at ‘professional clients’ in the UK (within the meaning of the rules of the Act) who are deemed both knowledgeable and experienced in matters relating to investments. The products and services to which this communication relates are only available to such persons and persons of any other description should not rely on this communication. Many of the protections provided by the UK regulatory system do not apply to the operation of the Companies, and compensation will not be available under the UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

SPDR ETFs is the exchange traded funds (“ETF”) platform of State Street Global Advisors and is comprised of funds that have been authorised by Central Bank of Ireland as open-ended UCITS investment companies.

The information provided does not constitute investment advice as such term is defined under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (2014/65/EU) or applicable Swiss regulation and it should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell any investment. It does not take into account any investor’s or potential investor’s particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status, risk appetite or investment horizon. If you require investment advice you should consult your tax and financial or other professional advisor. All information is from SSGA unless otherwise noted and has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. There is no representation or warranty as to the current accuracy, reliability or completeness of, nor liability for, decisions based on such information and it should not be relied on as such.

ETFs trade like stocks, are subject to investment risk and will fluctuate in market value. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate in value, so that when shares are sold or redeemed, they may be worth more or less than when they were purchased. Although shares may be bought or sold on an exchange through any brokerage account, shares are not individually redeemable from the fund. Investors may acquire shares and tender them for redemption through the fund in large aggregations known as “creation units.” Please see the fund’s prospectus for more details.
Concentrated investments in a particular Sector tend to be more volatile than the overall market and increases risk that events negatively affecting such sectors or industries could reduce returns, potentially causing the value of the Fund’s shares to decrease.Investments in small-sized companies may involve greater risks than in those of larger, better known companies.

Investments in mid-sized companies may involve greater risks than in those of larger, better known companies, but may be less volatile than investments in smaller companies.

Investing in foreign domiciled securities may involve risk of capital loss from unfavourable fluctuation in currency values, withholding taxes, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability in other nations. Investments in emerging or developing markets may be more volatile and less liquid than investing in developed markets and may involve exposure to economic structures that are generally less diverse and mature and to political systems which have less stability than those of more developed countries.

The funds are not available to US investors. SSGA SPDR ETFs Europe I plc and SPDR ETFs Europe II plc issue SPDR ETFs, and are open-ended investment companies with variable capital having segregated liability between their sub-funds.

The Companies are organised as Undertakings for Collective Investments in Transferable Securities (UCITS) under the laws of Ireland and authorised as UCITS by the Central Bank of Ireland.

The trademarks and service marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. Third party data providers make no warranties or representations of any kind relating to the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the data and have no liability for damages of any kind relating to the use of such data.

The views expressed in this material are the views of SPDR EMEA Strategy & Research through the period ended 21 November 2019 and are subject to change based on market and other conditions. The information provided does not constitute investment advice and it should not be relied on as such. This document contains certain statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected.
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

All forms of investments carry risks, including the risk of losing all of the invested amount. Such activities may not be suitable for everyone.

Standard & Poor’s, S&P and SPDR are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (S&P); Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (Dow Jones); and these trademarks have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (SPDJI) and sublicensed for certain purposes by State Street Corporation. State Street Corporation’s financial products are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, their respective affiliates and third party licensors and none of such parties make any representtion regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s) nor do they have any liability in relation thereto, including for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of any index.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

The information contained in this communication is not a research recommendation or ‘investment research’ and is classified as a ‘Marketing Communication’ in accordance with the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (2014/65/EU) or applicable Swiss regulation. This means that this marketing communication (a) has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research (b) is not subject toany prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research.
You should obtain and read the SPDR prospectus and relevant Key Investor Information Document (KIID) prior to investing, which may be obtained from spdrs.com. These include further details relating to the SPDR funds, including information relating to costs, risks and where the funds are authorised for sale.

Equity securities may fluctuate in value in response to the activities of individual companies and general market and economic conditions.
The returns on a portfolio of securities which exclude companies that do not meet the portfolio's specified ESG criteria may trail the returns on a portfolio of securities which include such companies. A portfolio's ESG criteria may result in the portfolio investing in industry sectors or securities which underperform the market as a whole.